AIDS Fair comes to Nata!

The District AIDS coordinators office in Tutume sponsored an AIDS fair in Nata.  Pictured above is Gloria ( a member of Ntwakgolo support group) giving an incredible speech on the importance of living openly with AIDS.  You can see that she proudly wears her uniform which was purchased with donations to this website.  She is also being heard using the sound system you purchased for Mabogo Arts and Culture Productions.  The event was held at Nata Kgotla and was attended by many people in the village. It was a true community effort and everyone got involved.

Even the Nata Clinic gardner, Setswaletswe Gabantshenke (also known as Chicken!) got involved with the fair and handed out condoms in one of the booths set up under tents.  Chicken is always involved with projects in the village that promote HIV/AIDS education.  Chicken handed out over 1800 condoms and explained how to use them properly.

Nata Primary school traditional dancers performed for the crowd.  They danced, sang and performed dramas related to HIV/AIDS and gender based violence.

They even performed a skit showing how traditional doctors "throw the bones" which can help diagnose problems as well as tell the future.  The point of the skit is that to this date no traditional herbs in Nata have been found to cure AIDS so they are encouraging people to take the ARV treatment vs seeking help for AIDS from traditional healers.

Pictured above in the yellow dress is Nata councilwoman DK.  Most of the villagers in Nata speak a form of Sesarwa so DK was interpreting the speech given by two Baswara AIDS activists into Setswana for those in the crowd who couldn't understand.  The language is filled with clicks as they are closely related to the San of the Kalahari.  Everyone loved hearing their language at such an important event.  The two official languages in Botswana are Setswana and English so their language is rarely heard on radio, television, or community events. It was a proud moment for them all!!!!

The men then performed an elaborate dance that got the crowd going.They wore the seed pods around their ankles which gave off a wonderful sound when they jumped and danced.

No party is complete in Nata without food.  Seen above is Nata clinic nurse Kgodumo chipping in and making the salads.  People in Nata love to eat beet root salad.

Headman Oatile (far right) is seen pounding the beef.  As we've told you before it is the job of the men to make the meat while the women make the palacye and salads.  The men pound the beef until it becomes very soft and shredded.  Its called Seswaa.

All the food was cooked in large pots over a wood burning fire.  The women can be seen making and stirring the palacye.   

Here is an up close an personal look at the maize meal just before its ready to serve.  This is a staple food for most people in Botswana.  While it looks like mashed potatos its really maize.

All the visitors made a tour of the booths.  Organizations represented were Nata Clinic, Social and Community Development Office, Tutume Youth Activity Center, Tutume Community College Library, and Maitengwe Pre-School.  The day was a huge success and a great opportunity for the people of Nata to hear once again the importance of testing, treatment, and living without stigma.  Thank you to Tutume Sub-District District AIDS Coordinators Office for sponsoring the event.  Thanks also go to all the volunteers in Nata who made the day such a success.